Italian violin, Francesco Cossu, 1979

As a full-blooded Italian violin, made in 1979 by Francesco Cossu (b. 1933), this instrument is rich in character and has a signed label as well as several brandmarks inside and under the fingerboard. Even as a child, Francesco Cossu was interested in violin making, a craft which he has practiced for over 50 years in addition to his main profession as a successful musician. He lives in his Sardinian home and most recently taught violin at the Cagliari conservatory. As a violin maker, Francesco Cossu has followed the Stradivari model, and this instrument also reflects the influence of the great master, while its individual traits demonstrate its builder's touch. This Italian violin is full of character, it has a flat table and well-executed elegant details, such as the small scroll with blackened edges and the cleanly cut sound holes which give it an unmistakable look. The richly applied and delicate oil varnish has a beautiful orange-yellow colour to it; the many traces of use confirm the instrument's outstanding musical qualities, especially considering its younger age. The master violin was looked over by our luthier who made it ready to play. This crackfree violin has a repair at the base of the neck that appears to be original and made at the time this violin was made. Its voice has a bright and open sound with a somewhat sweet aspect to the upper registers. It features the melting characteristic Italian sound for which the instruments from the cradle of violin making are known to this day.